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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena and the Congress jointly submitted a letter signed by 162 MLAs to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, staking claim to form the government. The majority mark in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly is 145.
Addressing a joint press conference, leaders of three three parties said that they fear the governor would dissolve the Assembly if Devendra Fadnavis fails to prove his majority and have emphasised to Koshyari that they have the numbers to form the government. NCP State wing President Jayant Patil told media in Mumbai that out 54 party MLAs, 51 have signed the letter and two other MLAs would join the signatories.
Patil also said that he would meet with rebel party leader Ajit Pawar to convince him to return to the party fold. He added that the three parties had requested the governor not to dissolve the House if Fadnavis failed to prove his majority or refuses to appear for the floor test.
“The NCP, the Congress and other parties have the numbers to support a Shiv Sena-led government,” said Patil. “We are ready to parade all 162 MLAs before the Governor any time. Today he is not in Mumbai. If he gives us permission, we will present our MLAs before him.”
Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that Devendra Fadnavis should immediately resign as the BJP has no numbers to prove its majority. Congress State President Balasaheb Thorat echoed Shinde’s demand and added that with 162 MLAs on their side, the new alliance would prove its majority in the House.
Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Maharashtra Chief Minister for a second term at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on Saturday, with Sharad Pawar’s nephew and the NCP leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy CM. Pawar had submitted a letter to the governor claiming that the NCP’s 54 MLAs support the Fadnavis-led government.
Later, NCP National President Sharad Pawar stated: “Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra Government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his.”
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